Blog

By: Pete Prebus

After a year off due to Covid, everyone was excited to meet up in person and discuss the state of the electric bike world.

This year’s eBike summit had a good group of topics to cover which included:

• The state of the eBike boom
• Rider safety
• Advocacy
• Innovative eMTB uses
• The new eBike battery recycling program

This year’s summit was held in Tucson, Arizona in conjunction with the 38th annual El Tour de Tucson which is a road ride that drew over 6,700 cyclists for rides of 28 miles, 57 miles, and 102 miles and this year there was a new eBike route included in the event. A number of the attendees of the summit rode in El Tour. El Tour de Tucson is a ride focused on raising funds for charity and non-profit organizations while promoting health and wellness.

The eBike summit kicked off with a happy hour at a local brew pub to network and catch up with friends in the industry. There was a lot of enthusiasm to catch up after so much time away due to COVID.

The weather did not disappoint either with highs in the low 80s, many people who traveled in from colder regions were happy to enjoy some time in the sun.

The next morning there was a fun group eBike ride from the University of Arizona campus along one of the bike boulevards. I rode a Santa Cruz Heckler to start with and then swapped half way through the ride for a Moustache Samedi Xroad step-thru. There were many different styles of eBikes for the riders to try.

After the fun ride the seminar started with a look at the state of the industry with Ash Lovell, PhD from People for Bikes hosting the summit.

A hot topic was the eBike boom that happened during the pandemic as more and more people found eBikes to be a great way to get out and explore their towns, cities, and recreational areas.

Jennifer Boldry from NAXION presented sales data and as you can see from the charts above 2020 and 2021 have seen an incredible rise of eBike sales! An important note is that these numbers are from traditional bicycle retailers that provide sales data to the NPD Group. This data does not include sales data from electric bike specialty retailers, direct to consumer eBike companies, third party eCommerce stores, and used eBikes. So with that in mind, the sales numbers are actually higher but the general trend is the important part.
[Read more…] about State of the Industry at the People for Bikes 2021 eBike Summit

How light can e-mtbs go? Well, at around 16kg / 35lbs the newly launched BH iLynx Trail Carbon is certainly pushing the limits of what is possible. EBR isn’t aware of any full suspension, true mid-drive e-mtb with a large 540Wh battery that comes close; the Orbea Rise with a 16.5kg / 36.4lb claimed weight is the next best we know of, with an honorable mention going to Specialized’s Levo SL at 16.95kg / 37.4lbs.

To dip under the 16kg emtb mark you have to opt for a hardtail with a Fazua drive (with a lower torque rating than the BH model’s own brand mid-drive) in the form of the 15.5kg / 34.1lb Trek E-Calibre. Is 15kg the next e-mtb benchmark weight that will be regularly broken?

In addition to all the e-MTB talk, there is more news an electric balance bikes for toddlers. Is this a trend we’re likely to see keep growing

In this week’s news::

• Groundbreakingly light full-sus e-mtb from Spain’s BH
• Would you consider an electric balance bike to help your toddler learn to ride?
• Lyft Divvy – a new and better electric share bike appears on Chicago’s streets.
• Nothng minimalist IndieGoGo-funded e-bike beats crowdfunding target
• Paris clamps down on e-scooter operator speed limits

[Read more…] about Ebike News: BH’s New Superlight e-MTB, E-balance bikes, Lyft Divvy and Much More!

If you want proof of how fat tire style e-bikes are taking the US by storm look no further than the three new models just announced by fat tire specialist Himiway – there are extra big batteries across all three models which include a cargo bike and a full suspension model.

By contrast Giant’s new e-mtb concentrates on high tech, being their first e-mtb built on a composite frame. Innovative features include flip chip technology that lets the rider switch the frame geometry between two different settings and the new RideControl Go multi-function frame-integrated button and allied handlebar remote. All proving there are evermore ways to venture off-road by e-bike – whether it’s comfort, huge range, cargo-carrying or a high-tech adrenaline boost you want.

In this week’s news::

• Meet Giant’s lightweight superpowerful new e-mtb, the Trance X Advanced E+
• Fat tire specialist Himiway expand range with 3 new models
• Zooz brings e-BMX style bike from US to UK
• The Ultra retrofit kit uses wireless sensor tech
• Tuck’s folding-wheel folding bike technology
• Porsche to take majority stakeholding in hi-tech e-bike firm Greyp

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Giant’s New High End E-MTB, Himiway’s New Fat Tire Models and Much More!

E-bike’s are casting their net far and wide this week to include: another small-wheeled e-bike – but this time one that can carry everything but the kitchen sink, an electric balance bike for children, all that’s new in the world of battery tech, Cowboy’s new callout service for those in major cities, bike paths and new trails and finally the creation of new electric micromobility giant. That has to be one of the most varied news mixes we’ve had for a very long time.

In this week’s news::

• KBO’s small but capable e-cargobike
• PWR launches electric balance bike for kids
• Battery recycling and safe storage program for e-bike shops to roll out early 2022
• New lithium and supercapacitor tech
• Cowboy Care will come to you
• Infrastructure bill promises more bike lanes
• New York State’s Dryden Rail Trail a step closer to completion
• Tier buys Nextbike to hugely expand electric share capabilities

[Read more…] about Ebike News: KBO E-cargobike, PWR E-balance Bike, Battery Update and Much More!

Once upon a time any bike you would see with small wheels was more than likely going to be a child’s bike. The advent of e-bikes has, in recent years, changed all that. Rather than being seen as child’s toys, small wheeled bikes – and e-bikes in particular – are clearly hot sellers.

It’s not just fashion either as small wheels have clear advantages. The bikes are easier to store, the small wheels accelerate quickly and make the electric acceleration even more fun, not to mention the fact they make the bikes more maneuverable too. This week’s small-wheeled e-bike launches are from longstanding US e-bike concerns Propella and Juiced and the latter also see the small wheeled phenomenon as appealing to younger e-bike riders in particular – it’s often wrongly assumed e-bikes are only for middle-aged or older riders. Whatever the reasons for their current popularity, expect to see more small-wheeled e-bike launches in future.

In this week’s news::

• Mini – the new pint-sized e-bike from Propella
• Juiced RipRacer – big fun in a small package
• Bafang’s new hub tech now available and mid-drive success
• New Brooklyn Bridge cycle lane boosts cyclist numbers
• Cannondale’s US and Euro expansion

[Read more…] about Ebike News: Propella’s Mini, Juiced’s RipRacer and More!

After five years of design and waiting, Evelo’s newest electric bike is finally rolling into the limelight.

Evelo announced its new Omega model on Monday, an all-new addition to their lineup that sports a retooled 750W mid-drive motor, the ultra-cool Enviolo AutomatIQ CVT drivetrain and a fully-integrated battery.

The Omega is Evelo’s new flagship e-bike that will eventually replace their ever-popular Aurora model. At first glance, the new Omega has a sleeker, more updated look over its predecessor thanks to the integrated battery (a first for Evelo) and fresh design, but we’ve been told the bike received much more than just a visual makeover. Under the hood, Evelo has retooled its 750W mid-drive motor to be higher performing and more powerful than the Aurora. It has an option for an add-on battery that would further increase the Omega’s range.

While you can preorder the Omega now, Evelo says they don’t expect the bike to start hitting the U.S. until early 2022. Evelo has promised that Electric Bike Report will get one of the first Omegas to arrive in the country for a full review, so stay tuned for that. But until then, keep reading for a first-look at the new e-bike.

[Read more…] about Evelo Launches new Omega Step-thru Electric Bike